Glaxo warns online pharmacies: No sales without legit prescriptions

Friday, January 17, 2003

Glaxo warns online pharmacies: No sales without legit prescriptions
Compliance concerns noted at Canadian Web sites

By CAROL SMITH
SEATTLE POST-INTELLIGENCER REPORTER

GlaxoSmithKline, the international drug conglomerate, has issued a warning to Canadian Internet pharmacies to stop selling its drugs online without proper prescriptions.

"It doesn't affect people who drive across the border to get prescriptions," spokeswoman Mary Anne Rhyne said.

Many people, especially seniors, have been obtaining legitimately prescribed drugs at Canadian pharmacies because of the lower cost. However, the U.S. government and drug companies have been trying to crack down on drug sales through foreign online pharmacies because of concerns that patients weren't getting legitimate prescriptions.

Glaxo's move is among the first by a major pharmaceutical company to try to stem the growing traffic in online drug sales.

"We had concerns about the transport of the drugs and about international mailing under proper conditions," she said. "Temperature and humidity can affect the efficacy of the medications."

Some of the better known drugs by GlaxoSmithKline include Avandia for diabetes, Advair for asthma and Paxil, an anti-depressant.

Also, the drug manufacturer had no way of knowing whether the Canadian online pharmacies were sending to the United States medicines that had not yet been approved by the Food and Drug Administration. Some drugs not yet approved in the United States are available in Canada, she said.

The warning, which went into effect Jan. 1, was aimed at several pharmacies, she said.

The drug company will no longer supply the medication if it discovers its conditions of sale are not met.

Although they represent a small portion of total drug sales, Internet pharmacies are difficult to track, she said. "It's a nebulous business."

It has always been illegal to buy or sell drugs without a valid prescription, but ensuring that all patients have prescriptions is more difficult with Internet sales.

"The Internet mailing gives you no guarantees, and lacks the appropriate face-to-face interaction with a doctor and the pharmacist," she said. That's especially important for many seniors who are on multiple medications and may face problems with drug interactions.

P-I reporter Carol Smith can be reached at 206-448-8070 or carolsmith@seattlepi.com

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